The volatile cycle at subduction zones is key to the petrogenesis, transport, storage and eruption of arc magmas. Volatiles control the flux of slab components into the mantle wedge, are responsible for melt generation through lowering the solidi of mantle materials, and influence the crystallizing phase assemblages in the overriding crust. Globally, magma ponding depths may be partially controlled by melt volatile contents. Volatiles also affect the rate and extent of degassing during magma storage and decompression, influence magma rheology and therefore control eruption style. The style of eruptions in turn determines the injection height of environmentally sensitive gases into the atmosphere and the impact of explosive arc volcanism. In this overview we summarize recent advances regarding the role of volatiles during slab dehydration, melt generation in the mantle wedge, magmatic evolution in the overriding crust, eruption triggering, and the release of some magmatic volatiles from volcanic edifices into the Earth's atmosphere.